Fastener device



G. H. HUFFERD FASTENER DEVICE Jan. 5, 1943.

Filed Sept. 27, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l Qv fiw/ V5 65020: H HUFFI/PD QR W H e M M A z A i M M M Jan. 5, 1943.

G. H. HUFFERD FASTENER DEVI CE Filed Sept. 2'7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 device laterally and .tension load capacity of the Patented Jan. 5, 1943 S PATENT OFFICE FASTENER navrca George H. Hurferd, Grosse Pointe, Mieln, assignduots Incorporated, Cleveor tol'hompson Pro land, Ohio, a corpora tion of Ohio Application September 2'7, 1941, Seriai No. 412,642

This invention relates to fastening devices for detachably securing together a plurality of parts or portions of the same part. The devices are in fastening airplane cowling,

especially useful airplane inspection plates, automotive accessories and the like.

More specifically this invention relates to fastening devices which are manipulated into and out of locked and released positions with a positive snap" action.

A feature of thesion of a locking stud vice in a plurality of planes to move the spring axially of the stud. Another important feature of the, invention deals with the lateral or outward stressing'of a spring member as His being moved to locked position followed by a release of the lateral invention includesthe provi- 18 Claims. (01. 24-221) which acts on'a spring destresses in the spring member when it reacheslocked position so that the spring member will snap" into locked position.

The fasteners of this invention thus lock and unlock with a positive snap" action A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of grommets for carrying shear loads independently of spring efforts.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a bridge member to increase the fastening device which member is capable of coacting with the spring of the device under heavy loads for in-.

creasing the spring resistance.

An object of the invention therefore is to provide fastening devices which are snapped into locked position and snapped into release position by reverse rotation of a single member.

A further object of this invention is to provide fasteners which are snapped into locked position by a quarter turn of a stud and which are snapped ;out of locked position into released position by reverse quarter turn rotation of the same stud.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring fastener having a separate shear load carrying member operating independently of thespring.

A still further object of this invention is to provide devices for detachably securing one part on another part without effecting any wear on the P rts.

A further object of this invention is to provide fastening devices having separate shear and tension load carrying members.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spring type fastener which autoas view,

- manner in which sheets of drawings 'vation and with matically increases upon application of Other and further become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed which, by way of example, illustrate several preferred embodiments of the invention. V

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fastener according to this-invention mounted in a sheet of metal.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a fastener according to this invention illustrating the same in locked position and holding together a pair of metal sheets.

Figure 3is a bottom plan view of the fastener illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and showing the position of the spring member at the start of the fastening operation.

Figure 4 is a; view imilar toFigure 3 and illustrating the position of the spring member and stud as the stud is partially rotated to locked position. a

Figure 5 is aview similar to Figures 3 and 4 but illustrating the positions of the spring member and stud in locked relation.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line VI-ATI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an exploded view with parts in eleother parts in vertical cross-section illustrating the several metal sheets and fastener elements disclosed in Figures 1 to 6.

Figures 8 to 12 are vertical cross-sectional views, with parts in elevation, illustrating the the shear load carrying grommet of the fastener is secured in a metal plane and also illustrating the manner in which the locking stud of the fastener is rotatably retained in the grommet.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a bridge member adapted for use in the fastening devices of this invention to increase the tension load carrying capacity of the devices.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the bridge member shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, illustrating a fastener according to this invention equipped with a bridge member such as is shown in Figures 13 and 14.,

Figme 16 is an end elevational view of the fastener assembly shown in Figure 15.

Figure 1'? is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional with parts in elevation, of a modified form of fastening device according to this invention illustrating the same mounted in position to lock together a pair of metal sheets.

Figures 18 to 20 are cross-sectional views, with parts in elevation, illustrating the manner in which the grommet for the fastener shown in Figure 17' is mounted in a metal sheet and also illustrating the manner in which the locking stud of the fastener is rotatably retained in the grommet.

Figure 21 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating another modified form of grommet for use in fastener devices according to this invention showing the same mounted in a relatively thick plate.

Figure 22 is an isometric view of a shim for use with the fastener devices of this invention to vary the range of use of a particular fastener.

Figure 23 is an end elevational View illustrating the manner in which the shim of Figure 22 is mounted on the spring of the fastener.

Figure 24 is an isometric view of a modified form of shim. I

Figure 25 is an end elevational view illustrating the manner in which the modified shim shown in Figure 24 is mounted on the spring of the fastener.

On the drawings:

InFigures 1 to 6, inclusive, the referencecharacters A and B designateparts, such as metal sheets, to be fastened together by the fastener ll! of this invention. As best shown in Figure 1 the fastener is composed of 'a spring member ll. grommet l2, and a locking stud l3. The plate defining the slot l5 and with these central portions lld of the flanges l'lc somewhat curved downwardly from the flanges.

The grommet l2 has a head l2a defining a ver-; tical cylindrical shoulder l2b adapted to fit into the aperture B, of the plate B. A cylindrical shank l2c extends from the head l2a andls adapted to fit in the aperture A" of the plate A. The grommet l2 has a cylindrical axial bore l2d therethrough sized to receive the shank portion andoperating end of the locking stud l3.

The head l2a of the grommet I2 is annularly recessed as at l2e to receive the embossed por- B is apertured as at B'to receive the grommetl2 freely therethrough' while the'plate A=is embossed as at A and punched as at A" to provide a dimpled aperture therethroughadapted to fixedly retain the grommet l2.

As best shown in Figure 6 the spring member I l is riveted to the plate Bby meansof rivets IA. The spring member II is a one-piece member having a'pair of feet Ila, lla; onopposite sides of the aperture B through the plate B. These feet receive the rivetsl4. Each foot Ila has a pair of upstanding legs llb thereon supportin bridging arms He in spaced relation above the feet Ila. The bridging arms I It: extend between the legs llb on each side of the :fe'etlla and bridge the aperture B in the metal plate B.

Each arm llc has a central inwardly disposed portion l'ld over the aperture B. These inwardly disposed portions lld define therebetween a slot l5 adapted to receive a portion of the stud l3 as will hereinafter be described; The ends of each inwardly disposed portion l'ld have inwardly projecting ears l le defining'the ends of the slot l5. These ears lie are maintained in spaced opposed relation as shown in Figures 3 to r 5 during the loading and unloading of the spring by the stud as shown in Figures 3 to 5 and serve a particular function as will hereinafter be described.

The spring member ll may be stamped from a A 25. the legs llb of the'spring member ll may be considered as having outwardly extending flanges lie with inwar ly extending central portions lld slots l3e" therein.

,ment .with thejplate B.

tion A of the plate A therein.

As shown in Figures 8 to 11 the plate A with the aperture A therein is placed over a die )6 (Figure 9) having a conical seat I60. and a cylindrical bore l6b adapted to receive the leading cylindrical end lla of a punch l1. The punch I! has a conical portion llb for forcing the portion ofthe plate around theaperture A" against the seat l6a of the die to form the dimple A. The shank l2c of the grommet I2 is then inserted through the aperture A" of the plate as show'n in Figure 10 until the dimple A is seated in the recess l2e of the grommet head. As shown in Figure 11. the assembly of Figure 10 is seated on a die l8 and thegrommet shank is acted on by the conical surface l9a .of a punch l8 to press the shank l2c of thegrommet l2 outwardly into gripping-engagement with the dimple A of the plate A as.,at "l2c'. The plate A, as best shown inFigure 6, thushas the'grommet l2 fixed thereon atthe inner ndof the dimple and this grommet lin es the aperture through the plate and at the same time provides, with the head l2q. thereof, .ashearwloadcarrying surface. l2b for abut- The locking'stud' l3, as shown in Figure 7, comprises a conical head l3a adapted to fit into the dimpleA' of ItheplatefAand engage the spread shank l;c.',o1"t he grommet, as shown in Figure 6. A cylindrical shank l3b extends from the small end-of the head I30 and is adapted to fit freely in the bore lZd of the grommet l2 as also shown in Figure 6. p

' The shank lib has an enlarged cylindrical end 7 portionlSc defining a shoulder I 3d. The cylindricalendvportion He has transverse slots l3e (Figures 7 and 12) on diametrically opposed sides thereof. These slots are open ended and are disposed normally to theaxls of the stud shank.

A. ;p airof helical grooves l3j are cut in the enlarged end l3cof the stud shank. Each groove l3! extends from an end .of a separate slot l3e for one-quarter turn around the end portion l3c to terminate in a common point li'lg at the end 0f the stud shank. The grooves l3), l3] provide separate diverging cam surfaces from the point l3g to a" separate slot l3e.- The helically grooved stud portion l3c maybe considered as having double-tapered threads'starti'ng' from a common 'point axially of the stud shank and diverging along helical paths outwardly toward the periphery of the shank portion .l3c tothe undercut As shown in Figure 12 the grommet and plate assembly is seated in another die 20 having a seat'accommodating the grommet but provided with a bead. Zlla-tofiow metal from the grommet head into the bore 12d of the grommet.

The stud I3 is then dropped into the grommet 5 l2 so that the shoulder l3d projects beyond the grommet head in the passageway 20?) of the die. A press 2| then squeezes the plate and gromoff-the: grommet carrying the shear load and the r' ih ififi iills xedly ass e dz-het u .81 t. A etweea'aa-slq iaqan esirtqirege e the c m: and, 1 of the locking stud.

simultaneous's aterahsp adina i s-downs: thesnrineami i elativ mime-stud- =-thessrine area prcedaan rt; whilezy heyfifif their: manna-tow rd th stu s head. l-ww'lhisat rci eaparti the shrine ar s. c9 11; tinues :Tlllltfli'tbfii arms. .rea hzztb slntsr 1. of ;-:the; stud whereupon; the garins will-snap ginto; the- 5 9)WithjfiilgPOSiti-YQ clicking ,tionz andiw resume @their inormalmlatera natiali. r lation; Howeverrgptheaarmszarezhel gin.i rein-draw do n posltionsiiby .theEstudH'ZaAsr-mgesmt pt a ;quart r turnsof thestufl, .therefor rthesfasten r are locked togetherwith. a snamaetion. ;A, .re l-,1z versegz'tumvof ythesstud will unlock-ethe spring arm; portions Md. I ldr-outoisthe; slqts ;l3e, lieof i. the rstud withe .a; positive. clicking action cans-.- ing the spreading apart ofthe. arms; -Upon com pletion: of r-thejguartereturn rotation of the stud the parts are complete1y--disengaged.) -;-*The tend ency 10f f the-: springs reclaim the initial width ofswtheqslotr-l51after the spring has been: snapped out-f the ;.stud;:s1ot;; 13s,; .I.3e aidshthe reverserotation of the; stud toi c mpletelyadiseng se position thus only necessitating manualeflort. to initiate rotation of the; stud=..unti1 theflclick is audibler lwaThei-partsrare then ;disco.nnected.'. .best-zshown-ain- -Figure 6,1.the a: grommet 2 receivesithe stud-13 and: insulates the. stud against 00 contact with1- either .=,0fi. -the.p1ates- A or 1?.v The grommet: wall 12b provides a shoulder which; is fixedly secured: to 1 the :i-plate; A .iforeabutment :wlth the wall defining the aperture BU-ofithe, plate B. -;This. grom'metnthus. marries ishear loads :between theplatesiAsand-B and; since it is at right. angles to v-;bothi plates; the sheari load will not be carried. .by athesspring... member I 1.; In addition; the right, angular relationship between the wall plates prevents any. tendency for the plates to separate-due, .to i-such-e-load; .-Thespring ll. car! ries the .tension-loadewhile thergromrnet I; carries the shear load;

Since the stud l3 and grommet I: are preterid-iii,

ably formed o fsteel while, especially in 'aircrai't installations, the plates A and B may be io'rme'd 1 musse Pausi 'suuecie occurs dueto' relative rotation betweenthe's'tud d. g omm t Ql l be ama e a dit. hu de i bl it the u 1 541 t htebi .i d x jnu fljall t l tsp Zthejia herh M which ritactthealuininumare immovablyiixed a o fil laluminunijand relativelvmov l'e enof another metal 'suf ch as valuliiin'um For] other light vight alloy, "it "is desirable tolhave the "steel parts plated with some, non-corrosive n arrosive action terials'uch as, cadmium so that x" v willj notlbccur etween the-hummus; and the eel-Dar s Obviously; -ho v i. such. a p a in ear such as the. 81

gaging.}' parts of" the ,ffastener are de 'of' the same metjal whichwiIl not corrode dueto bearinglcontact between the surfaces, thereof, The

; grommet thridser'vesithe dual purpose of'pro ""viding a shear load carrying memberand or inula n s r mi arts b ias Q p In the ev n n desired to mcrease'the tension -.Ioaid carryin'g'capacitw'ofjithe fastener a bridge member '25, such, asis' shown, in Figures 13 piises isqiiaf lo r ct n a me l. t If dapt d ,to ri nlth sp ng arms-11 a d k I ners of vthe plate 261prevent unau thorized removal 'of the. bridge member from mgmnesprmgand bridge can be shipped as a" subw'a sembly' without requiring additional securing means, to hold I the same to howev er i's Icentrally'apertured as .at 2 6 c t r ceive v thefjsha'nlr end 30 of I the stu d. there- As shown in FigureslS and l fiwhen the cam surfaces on the stud end l3e draw 'theIcentral portions lid of the arms 1lc downwardly toward the stud headthey move the ears lleinto substantially contacting engagement with the embossed portion 26b of the bridgemember 25. When the fastener is lockedand tension loads are applied tending to separate the plates A and B these ears Heflwill firmly engage.v the bridge member to further stiffen the spring H and change the rate of spring resistance. After the ears -.have.contacted the bridge further deflection of the spring member can onlyoccur through a twisting ofth sp ing arms No. This twisting. of ,course, requires materially .more force than mere deflection of thearms such as occurs before the ears contact the bridge member.-

The assembly shown in Figures 15 and 16 is thus highly desirable when the fastener is to be subject to high tension, loads as well -as. to high shear. loads sincethe grommet v I 2 will carry great shear loads. The brid'ge member can be used with the same spring, grommet and stud .assem bly illustrated in Figures 1 to-t'l. p V

,In the event that the fasteners of this invention are not to be subjected to. high tension or shear loads a'fisomewhat, cheaper assembly such as is shown in Figure 17 can be provided. As therein shown, a stamped'grommet 30 can be I dimple A'J" The'stud13 is next rotatably retained in; he

used to engage the dimple A of the sheet A in place of 'the more expensive machined grommet l2. This grommet is readily assembled onfiihe dimple of the plate A as shown in Fig re s18 to 20. Asshownin Figure 18, for example, the grommet .307 initially has a i hollowf cylindrical shank 30a stamped to fit through the aperture die 3| and theshank 3 ajisfp essed bymeans of" ping engagement with the di mpl'e A'." Th i sfpres'sing operation forms the ey lindri oal shankf 30a 1 in o a nge 30b ti htl rimiil ithe imp e A.

The resulting I structure thus; as of aneyeletf iriirig' the '6 er the eyelet-type. grommet. 30 by inserting the ame through h le nd; wel essa ih fa l mr bly between the'dle 31' andjaflat' press 33.; The conical seat 310,01? thefd iejl forces theg mmetf w d o; sl -1y hen ,s lfi .a sa' eli w 9.. i i f us th vq nmt' o bu 1. sh v a t 'pffth lstud 'olt ati de will 0 flimiieh h remei fl'i'liala'ssemhly' of, F gure same mariner as des. ib'ed i ij U assembly. shown,

as. the ep the plate B, The shim 40 comprises a flat square or rectangularfmtaigsheet"having aoentralapert ire'fi ljtherethrough adapted to receive-the V retaining 'nvet u, o end 'of the shfeetIU 5 a Pair of upstanding legs a with ears Eat the upper ends thereof bent back oi'er'theplatell in spaced parallel relation therefrom.': These-* ear s j llb are adapted 'to lie-slipper?over a foot Ilaof the'springas shown in' Figi1re"'23 totem? lo the plate portion under the-foot and' tlie'retw raise'thespringhabo th p1ate-.B -i. 1

'Anotherfomi o'f shini is shown in an -'25, therein shown a shim li comprising-"i a square orirectangnlar fiat metalsheet Q6 withthe cdnieal suxflface 32d1of a banner into grip a r'i'vetreceiviri'g'aperture" 46a therethrou'gh' has" laterallyf extending' portions" 46b on- '-one'='end-- thereof oar'ryin'g -lgs 460 extending upwardly-:- fron'i' the plate 48 but in laterally spaced relation therefrom, 1

The 'upper er'i d s of the legs 46c hav mampm plates' k l o'f"46'-aijeoi -anyfdeslred' thickness to -ra'lse the spring member H away fromthe plate n ah qsired aistsficsz The-nseof s'uch shims possiblet0 materially-@0119 HOWEI the number (ifs'tiid-fsizes''for difiererit installatiiirisi orie'side'of thefthiclgp studIl3, from thejplat'e's' A an s does notihave yrigh 'a giil the plate iB aiid do the'grbmm ti Z', it.w. 1

u se'of ari ov'erlength spade load capable of being carr'ie y M '1 ou se; m y 1mg; tm g l n the ev nt that the parts to garry" t fltted togethervary 'apa quite;tl'iickthearijangenieiil;sh 3 e 2 fastened wgether may'wryif lfor examp' leiothei may 'beased'fwhereirifthe reierenc lobar-g ater 0 parts eonld be sandwiched 'between the -1ilates r pr s n ajith a ifit l flate la e 4o t Plats bei a cylindrical'apertlir' c"-whicil fsooiinterbor'edf fastened together- B a; singleifasteneri as at C" at one end thereoi u A gronr t'fj'35 'Ifhe'-' fasfien'ers" 0f this invention ax-e: ligfht' 'irrhavingja'. cylindricalll'lead -porfiori a an l rsweig ?bprate wifih -positive snap ::aotion and duced diameter shaiik' portion fifitogether with have independent 'shear loadx oarryln -andz.ten s a 'cylindriq'al bore r ig throiig'h the head-and 50 sionload'carrying means; Y shank has the shank 35b erted int th apr- It-"will; of courseg-b'e understood that varlous: tu c'] of the plat e'jcl oiifiterbij'i c'- is* detailsoffeonstruetiommay-be'-.varied= through a;: gauged'so that t l asta p wide rahge'without' departing fiom=theprinciples- 35b" win" extend fthere U ofithisfinventlon and 'itis;thereforewnot the' tionj is' thenfpeenedgspun pii'rp'ose to'limitthe pater'i'tgranted lieredn'other *1'iilaiiiiasmy 'n'ven'ti'on: I 1. A fa'stening device comprising: engaging fasten'iiig "elements includirig springarms defln-- mg slot therebetween arid-adapted to be fixed w s pait to he iastened ito arsetiond part and a; headed lookih studz- 'adapted to ibea-rotatablye r in hq r. 23 infi hi 1 i to theipmi .i ifn i h nls the ap ture n he Plat,

5 liaviihg 'divergifigfihelioal flcam surfaces adapted toenter the slot and be rotated to force me'srms laterally outward-while drawing the "same toward tireheader the studz and saidsttid having grooye'srie'civi-rig' the laterally defiecte'd and drawmarms from the oam's' td'relleve-lateral deflectingstresses" i'n"---"the'* 'rrris without appreciable' reliefgof the: dra'wii'ig stresses thereirr whereby at the 00111918 tio'ri of the 'fastening "operation .the arms'. wlll sfiap ir itotlie grooves for' retaining the parts to 7; gether and whereby saidstud m ist 'be'reversibly In Figures 22 "and 23 jthe're is illustijatedfa shim 40 a pair of yvhiejh are adapted to be'moi nte'ii under pm-f fee la f' the spring 1 l 'so' as to aiy the spatial relatiorif of the'jsp'ring rpm mounted n bh seeond- 'partisaidrlockingaistud rotated with suiilcient effort to snap the arms apart and out of the grooves to unfasten the parts.

2. A fastener device adapted to detachably connect a plurality of apertured parts which comprises a spring member adapted to be fixedly mounted on the innermost part and having spring arms defining a slot therebetween, a locking stud adapted to extend through the parts into said slot, said locking stud having diverging cam surfaces engaging said arms to spread the same while simultaneously drawing them toward the innermost part, and said stud having oppositely disposed grooves therein normal to the axis thereof each communicating with a divergent end of a cam surface to receive a spring arm therefrom and relieve the spreading stresses therein whereby said stud and said spring arms will be locked together with a snap action.

3. A fastener device comprising a spring member having feet adapted for fixed connection to a part to be fastened to a second part, upstanding legs on each foot of the spring, spring arms connecting the upper ends of pairs of legs todefine a slot therebetween in spaced relation from said parts, a locking stud adapted to project through the parts to be fastened together and into said slot between the spring arms, and cam surfaces on said locking stud coacting with said spring arms to spread the same apart while drawing them toward the part on which the spring is mounted, and said stud having arm receiving slots at the ends of said cam surfaces to receive the laterally spread spring arms for' relieving the lateral stresses therein.

4. A fastening device for detachably connecting a plurality of apertured parts which comprises a spring member adapted to be mounted on the innermost part and having a plurality of spring arms bridging the aperture thereof in spaced relation therefrom, a grommet fixedly mounted in the aperture of the outermost part and having a shoulder extending into the aperture of another part adapted to thrust against said other part, and a locking stud extending through said grommet and between said spring arms to'cooperate therewith for holding the parts together whereby tension loads will be borne by said spring and shear loads will be borne by said grommet.

5. In a fastening device for detachably connecting a plurality of apertured parts the improvements which comprise a spring member carried by the innermost part having spring arms bridging. the aperture thereof in spaced relation therefrom, a shear load carrying grommet fixedly secured to the outermost part and projecting into the aperture of an adjacent part .to form an abutment shoulder therefor, and a locking stud extending through said grommet having cam surfaces for engaging said spring arms to draw the parts together.

6. A fastener for detachably connecting an apertu'red part to a second apertured part which comprises a hollow grommet mounted in the aperture of the first part and projecting into the aperture of the second part to provide an abutment shoulder engageable with the aperture, defining wall of the second part, a spring member mounted on the second part, and a locking stud extending through said grommet and both of said parts having locking instrumentalities cooperating with said spring member.

7. A fastening device for detachably connecting one apertured part to a second apertured part which comprises a spring member secured to the second part having spring arms bridging the aperture in spaced relation from the second part, a grommet fixedly mounted in the aperture of the first part and extending into the aperture of the second part to define an abutment shoulder substantially parallel with the aperture defining wail of the second part, a locking stud rotatably retained in said grommet, a double helically grooved enlarged end on said locking stud adapted to project between the spring arms and providing cam surfaces for spreading the arms apart while drawing the same toward the second part, and said end of the stud having slots therein normal to the axis of the stud for receiving the spread spring arms from the ends of the cam surfaces with snap action whereby rotation of the stud will draw the parts together into locked relation.

8. In a fastener adapted to detachably connect a plurality of apertured plates including an outermost plate having an embossed aperture defining portion in sloping relation to the plate, the improvement which comprises a headed grommet having a sloping annular recess in the head thereof adapted to receive said sloping embossed portion of the outermost part and a shank portion adapted to be expanded into engagement with said embossed portion of the outermost part to fixedly secure the grommet in the aperture thereof.

9. A fastener for detachably connecting a pluraiity of apertured plates comprising a spring member carried by the innermost plate, a hollow grommet carried in the aperture of the outermost plate and projecting into the aperture of an adjacent plate to provide a shear load carrying surface adapted to abut the aperture defining wall of said adjacent plate, and a stud rotatably mounted in said grommet having locking instrumentalities cooperating with said spring whereby said spring and stud carry tension loads and said grommet carries shear loads independently of said spring.

10. In a fastener adapted for connecting a plurality of apertured. parts including a spring member carried by the innermost part and a locking stud member rotatably carried by the outermost part, the improvement which comprises a hollow grommet fixedly mounted in the aperture of the outermost part for receiving the locking stud therethrough and having a shoulder at right angles to the parts and projecting from the outermost part into the aperture of an adjacent part for carrying shear loads.

11. A fastener comprising a plurality of deflectable spring arms, a stud having locking instrumentalities adapted to project between the spring arms to deflect the same, and a separate rigid bridge member underlying the spring arms and adapted to abut the arms when the same are deflected for resisting further deflection thereof.

12. A fastener adapted for detachably connecting a plurality of apertured parts which comprises a spring member adapted to be carried by the innermost part having upstanding legs carrying spring arms in spaced relation from said innermost part, a separate apertured bridge member spanning the aperture in said innermost part and thrusting against the innermost part to provide a stiff abutment surface under the spring arms, a locking stud rotatably mounted in the outermost part and projecting through the bridge member into the space between the spring arms and locking instrumentalities on said stud member cooperating with said spring arms to draw the same toward the bridge membensaid bridge member adapted to abut said spring arms upon further deflection thereof to stiffen the spring resistance under tension load.

13. In a fastener device for detachably connecting a plurality of parts including a spring 'member and a locking stud adapted to cooperate spring arms connecting the legs. on the same sides' of both feet, said spring arms having inwardly bowed portions defining a slot therebetween, ear projections on said arms defining the ends of said slot, a bridge member mounted on said feet having a central embossed portion raised above said first part and underlying said spring arms, and a locking stud rotatably mounted in said second part and prolecting through said bridge member into the slot between the spring arms, and said locking stud having locking instrumentalities thereon cooperating with said spring arms to draw the same toward the bridge member whereby tension loading of the parts will deflect said ears into abutment with the embossed portion of said bridge to increase the spring resistance of said spring member.

15. In' a fastening device for detachably connecting a plurality of apertured parts including a spring member having feet adapted to be connected to an innermost part and having spring arms carried by said feet in spaced relation from said innermost part, the improvement which comprises a shim adapted to be interposed between a foot of said spring and saidinnermost part, and said shim having attachment tabs overlying said foot of the spring to retain the shim on the foot.

16. In a fastener device including a spring member adapted to be fixedly connected to a part which is to be detachably connected to a second part and said spring having upstanding legs projecting inwardly from said part, the improvement which comprises a shim underlying said spring having fastening means engaging said legs of the spring.

17. In a fastener including a spring member having a pair of feet, upstanding legs on opposite sides of each foot, and spring arms carried by said legs, the improvement which comprises shims underlying said feet of the spring member and having upstanding legs adjacent said legs of the spring member, and ears on said legs of the shims for gripping said legs of the spring member to retain the shims in position under the spring feet.

18. A fastener for detachably connecting a plurality of apertured plates including a relatively thick counterbored outermost plate comprising a spring mounted on the innermost plate, a headed hollow grommet having a shank extending into the aperture of the outermost plate and expanded into the counterbore of the aperture, said head of the grommet adapted to fit into the aperture of the adjacent plate to provide a shear load carrying surface, and a stud rotatably mounted in said grommet having a cam end cooperating with said spring to draw the plates together into locked relation.

GEORGE H. HUFFERD. 

